CAREER INSIGHTS: Transitioning with grace

I spent the last month in a transition phase. I am not talking about a simple change in route to work, but a full, life-changing transition. Uprooting myself and all of my routines to start something completely new and different.  Transition comes in many forms, from a new job within the same company to moving cross country to start a new career. While a lot of change is for the better, and I have gone through transitions before, it is still a challenging process. I thought it would be helpful to share some insights as most, if not all of you, will go through a transition at some point in your lives.

First, let’s face it, transitions are tough, don’t let anyone fool you into thinking it’s going to be easy.  In thinking about this, I realized that the reason transition and change is hard is because it takes you to a place or routine that is not familiar and that makes you uncomfortable. This may seem like a simple rationale that you could come up with on your own, but owning up to this uncomfortable feeling is the first step to getting through it.  Let me clear, there is no way around it. My goal is to share with you some things that helped me get through it.

The key is to take things one step at a time and find a few things that are familiar to you that will bring you comfort during the transition. People are told to de-personalize a home when they are trying to sell it.  The hope is that by removing personal items, potential buyers can better envision themselves, and their personal items, within a space. The same works in reverse.  If you are in a new place, (home, company, or even just moving to a different office within the same building), personalizing your space will bring you more comfort that you would expect.

When I moved, I packed my car with a few personal items and left the rest for the movers. As I entered this new place where I didn’t even know how to find the grocery store, let alone have a bed to sleep on, there were a few things that really helped me when things got tough.

1. Photos of family and friends. While the placement and surroundings of a photo might be different, the faces in the pictures are still the same. Having those familiar faces to look at when I thought I would never be able to make this place like home were invaluable.

2. My favorite coffee mug. Seems silly, but before the movers came, having my own coffee mug to drink coffee out of each morning started off the day in a familiar manner.

3. Sound. Never underestimate the power of music. Familiar songs generally bring back memories and those can be comforting as well. Plus, some upbeat music can help you attack a new set of tasks with a bit more enthusiasm.

Finally, remember to take things one step at a time. You are never going to be expected to figure everything out all at once. Ramping up in a new job, or unpacking and putting things away takes time. Take it one task and one box at a time. You’ll be out from under the cardboard in no time.

CAREER MOTIVATION: Be proud of your scars

“These bruises make for better conversation.....” is a line from a song by Train (feat. Ashley Monroe). Hearing it recently got me thinking about my prior work experiences, including some that went well and others that still make me cringe.

As we’re navigating career transitions out in the real world, it is assumed we focus on the good stuff and brush over the less than ideal work experiences. But let’s face it, not every job is perfect. Deep down, we all know that.

Here’s the thing: bruises and scars generally come with an interesting story tied to trying something new. For example, determining if you can actually jump that ditch with your dirt bike. I’d like to think you will not be penalized for having tried something new, even if it ended differently than you’d expected. As most professionals can appreciate, the real story is in understanding what you did with the information you learned from the not-so-stellar work experience.

How a person overcame a difficult situation and knew when a situation wasn’t going to work is the juiciest part. It really does make for better conversation. When an interviewer asks you about your greatest weakness, they are not looking for the generic, non informative “I am too detail oriented” or the “I work too hard...” replies. It’s okay to be honest here! Let them know that you are a human being. Everyone has flaws, including the person you are interviewing with. Identifying your strengths and weakness is part of this process. Before you share your story in an interview, I recommend you embrace the cuts and bruises you experienced throughout your career. Be able to discuss them as a learning experience. Think about them as the hardest teacher you ever had, but the one you remember and still hold respect for.

Bruises make for good stories....think about growing up. You get hit by a ball once, and the next time, you know to duck. When you make a mistake a work, you know how to handle it the next time around. Someone who can learn from their mistakes is a very valuable asset. Especially if the learning process was embraced.

CAREER COUNSELING: Tell me about yourself....(continued)

As promised, I wanted to continue the discussion from my previous post on Wednesday, 6/12/2013.

Need specifics? More about how this works with a career overview?

If I am describing myself, I usually start with letting my audience know that I am a creative problem solver with a strange fascination for numerical puzzles. During my job as a waitress a few years out of college, I also learned that I have a strong interest for and a perception of understanding people’s interaction with the physical environment. I further honed my intellect of human behavior with a few years in corporate HR, focusing my career on finding the right people for the right jobs. My skills of spatial perception and human interaction were enhanced with some budgetary experience during my time in event planning while in an HR role as well. Now I am eager to further apply this knowledge base to this business.

Do you have a picture of who I am?

Our verbiage or self statements won’t be identical, but our goals are the same. I am focusing my audience on things that I am proud of and that are important to me. The aspects of my career that have brought me to my next career move today. Tip: Help the interviewer understand what motivates you -- the skills you have developed throughout your career will give them a clearer picture of how you may fit within their organization.

Moving forward, keep in mind:

• DO be prepared to answer questions about anything you put on your resume
• DON’T describe every little detail during your personal summary
• DO focus on what you are proud of and what is important to you
• DO let the interviewer move on from there and dig in with questions that are important to them and the position in question
• DON’T stress! You know YOU better than anyone.

CAREER COUNSELING: Tell me about yourself...

For recruiters, “Tell me about yourself” is a phrase that is as common as “paper or plastic” from your local grocer.  You know the question is coming, and yet many interviewees are still befuddled as how to best answer. On one hand, it may feel like a deceptively easy way to kick off a conversation. Are you as prepared as you could be to answer? More importantly, are you taking full advantage of this open opportunity to sell yourself to the person across the table?

From an interviewer’s perspective, this statement is a generally a good way to assess how a person presents themselves. As an interviewer, I can read the background and work history from a resume, but I really want to know the WHYs and HOWs of the decisions you have made in your career. Tip: Remember that how you answer this question will help guide an interviewer’s questions throughout the remainder of the interview.

So, as a candidate, what do you want to communicate? Given the copious amount of times I have asked this question, I have unfortunately seen and heard many candidates run through the chronological history of their employment. Remember, that is already available on the resume. Candidates who are nervous also have a tendency to ramble a bit and lose the attention of the interviewer. Tip: When you communicate, think of it as a summary and focus on your passions and transferable skills. Essentially, guide the interviewer to the things you are proud of and relevant to the job you are interviewing for.

Next point! As the candidate, how do you communicate the key aspects of yourself that are appropriate for the job?

I suggest thinking about a favorite place, either your grandmother’s living room, the lobby of your favorite museum or that great little coffee shop where you have been spending your time applying to jobs. You generally don’t describe a place in chronological order, it wouldn’t make sense. When people talk about space or place, they generally summarize with a few key words and elaborate on the specific details that enhance the space, right? For example, you would describe an area as warm, sunny, with a comfortable feel that makes you want to relax in the corner of a big sofa for hours. From there, you can focus on more specific information, such as floor to ceiling windows and muted yellow walls that focus your attention on the hardwood floors original to the building. Is there a picture in your head yet? Good. Now think about your career the same way and come up with a picture of your work experience using that analogy.

Don’t worry, this discussion point is not over yet. More specifics to come in the next post.

CAREER INSIGHTS: Building your network

Networking Lesson #2: Reaching out to new contacts.

These days, reaching out to a potential new contact is a lot like online dating. Somewhat intimidating if you don’t do it very often, but with the right attitude, not a difficult process. After all, you are trying to connect with someone you don’t know and hoping that your first impression is a good fit, right? You need them to like you enough to want to help you, find you interesting enough to talk to, but not overwhelm them at the beginning of the relationship. It can be a delicate balance, but nothing a little confidence and practice can’t smooth over.

To start with, let’s consider an online dating profile. You are sharing your background and highlighting certain experiences, interests and what makes you stand out from other prospects. The goal of your dating profile is to attract the attention of people you want to spend time with and share experiences with.

Funny enough, when you are looking to make contacts within a new industry or a new company, the same rules apply.

Your LinkedIn profile should reflect the story that you want to share with potential colleagues and business contacts. It should contain information about your background, focusing on things that are important to you, and share a little bit about what makes you a unique candidate for future opportunities.

Focusing on your own story is important, however you can also use these profiles to understand someone else’s story as well.  Remember the time you take with your profile and show the same respect when reviewing the profile of a potential contact.

When crafting an introductory email, take the time to show you understand a person’s interests and background. Help the person understand the common interests between the two of you. A personalized introduction can make an amazing first impression on a contact. When reaching out, a standardized email will be received with the same amount of attention. Trust me when I tell you this, everyone knows what the standard email looks like. It’s bland and has a one-size-fits-all vibe. Even the most carefully written “format” email will still read like spam if you don’t take the time to personalize it.

Things to consider for a great first impression:

• Be unique: Don’t be afraid to share some special accomplishments
• Be considerate of your audience and their time: Help them understand how they can help (if they cannot figure out why you reached out, they are not going to spend a whole lot of time speculating)
• Be responsive! This is a big one. If you reach out to someone to make a connection and they respond back right away offering their assistance, you better jump on it. Also be sure to send follow up communication. Even if there is no “spark” in your relationship, the world is a small place. Leave that relationship on a good note and at the least send a thank you letter.

Remember, even though networking and dating can be intimidating at times, practice makes perfect!

CAREER MOTIVATION: Finding your frustrations

Today’s blog asks the question, “How do I know if I’m making the right decisions for my life?”

It’s a common question my clients in transition fret over. How do I know what choice is the best for my career? Do I even want to do this job? Will this job make me happy? Those pressing questions, coupled with our fast-paced world, forces us to adapt to an interesting variety of situations and circumstances (some more natural fits than others).

Let’s face it: sometimes it can be challenging to find your passions as you look to take a turn in your career. You think to yourself, “Well, yeah, I could do that job.” or “Sure, it sounds like it might be interesting.” But remember, this is your time to find a better path that suits your life. Don’t settle! Or get bogged down with the ifs, ands or buts.

A friend of mine who is job searching is currently plagued with a combination of what she believes is expected of her as a next step up the corporate ladder and what she thinks her background dictates her next career move should be. She struggles like so many of us to keep her head above that mess to see what options are available above the surface. The question is not, “What should I do?” or “What is expected of me?” But, “What do I want to do?” and “What am I interested in learning next?”

Frankly, it might take some time to adjust your thinking before the answers come. For me it took deep soul searching and some great people asking me the right questions.

Those who know me best can attest that inefficient environments, especially in the service industry, drive me nuts. I have also been known to get a slight case of road rage from time to time. Each time I encountered these situations, I just kept thinking to myself, “Why can’t they design a space that makes sense for the people using it?!” Crazy as it sounds, that was my starting point. The frustration I kept experiencing keyed me in to my passion for efficient design - a world away from my corporate HR background and certainly not a path my friends or family were expecting!

I am sure there are times when you get frustrated as well. Do you ever find yourself thinking, “I can do this better”? Write those things down. Keep a journal. Find a friend in a similar position and keep each other honest. Once you have a few of these markers identified, the common themes will begin to appear.

Let this be YOUR starting point. Stick around for more tips or comment below if you have suggestions that have proven successful as you’ve navigated this challenging time.

CAREER COUNSELING: The Open House Resume

Fact: we all have passions. But here’s a question: when is it appropriate to commingle personal activities with past experiences on a resume when job searching?

Genuine enthusiasm for personal interests is something that a candidate should never stifle during the interview process. But what about the resume? Is that the right place to draw attention to some of these activities?  

My answer: sometimes.

Before explaining further, just wanted to give you a heads up of my preference for analogies when explaining my theories. Some of my followers will recognize my affinity for using housing/construction analogies.... blame it on my shameless addiction to HGTV and the DIY network. So, with that disclaimer, let’s talk about presenting your resume like hosting an open house:

Realtors may ask that you remove some personal effects when showing your home to potential buyers so that nothing unnecessary distracts from the house’s framework. After all, as a seller, you’d essentially be decorating your home for the next owner, right? Taking personal effects out of eyesight allows potential buyers to more easily see themselves in that space without being distracted by sentimental items that have little to no meaning to them. Likewise, take that approach when preparing your resume. Present yourself in your resume according to who you’re interviewing with. Remove unnecessary clutter from your resume and allow potential employers to envision you as a hire without being distracted by too many personal traits that may have little relevance to their business needs.

Here are a few additional thoughts:

• Understand your buyer: knowing what a buyer is looking for will help you declutter more effectively. If an upgraded kitchen is important, don’t cover up the granite countertop. For your resume, look at the basic and preferred qualifications of the job description. This is a list of ‘must haves’ and ‘nice-to-haves’. Focus your resume the same way, if it’s at the bottom of the qualifications list, it should be at the bottom of the resume.
• Focus on your skills:  a three month volunteer trip to Costa Rica may make for a great story during an interview, but if you are dedicating half of a page to that in your resume, you are distracting your buyer from the skills they want to hire you for. Don’t let the 17 photos hanging in the hallway detract from the view through the bay window.

Remember, design your resume as you would your home for an open house. You will not always have everything a buyer or potential employer is looking for, but if you can draw attention to the key aspects that are important, they will be more willing to consider making a deal. After all, you can always put your personal photos up in your next office!

CAREER INSIGHTS: Nurture your network

When chatting with clients about career transitions, a question I'm almost always asked is, "What is the art of networking?" 

People want to know how to approach networking. How to maintain relationships during different stages in their careers? And they want to know how to best add value when they're approached. There's a lot to this, it really is an art form, and having done it for quite some time I am happy to share some well established ideas behind it. 

Lesson #1: Nurture your existing network.

I view a network like the foundation for a home. Before putting the walls up, you need to make sure you have a solid base on which to build. If your career is like a house and you are looking to add on a new room, you must ensure the foundation can support this kind of change. Essentially, a foundation is something you need to pay attention to on a regular basis, making sure there are no cracks, leaks, or structural issues. 

Take the time to nurture your network in the same way! Keep up with your contacts and learn about what they are doing in their careers. Remember: you can learn a lot from each others experiences. As contacts make changes, be aware and be supportive. Send congrats where congrats are due.  Moving forward, focus on your network. Make it a part of your regular routine and don't be afraid to make it fun. Below are some additional tips to keep up a solid network. 

• Keep your contact information up to date
• If you are LinkedIn user (which I highly recommend), keep that up to date as well
• Make time on a regular basis to reach out to those in your network - something as simple as commenting on a posted article or a job change is a great way to get the conversation started
• If a contact is local, suggest coffee or cocktails, anything face to face....some of the greatest ideas come from networking over a frosty margarita 

I'd love to know your thoughts. Feel free to post any questions or suggestions below. Let's keep this discussion going....more to come. 

CAREER MOTIVATION: A season or a lifetime?

Another great quote was shared with me recently.

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person.  - Author unknown

These days there are few people who remain with the same company for their entire careers. In fact, with corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, many times an employee will outlast their employer in the marketplace. So how do you get the most out of your career choices...

Early on in your professional career, you may still be finding your passion. It's likely that you will spend a significant amount of time discovering industries and different types of roles that really get you energized. It is important to recognize that when you make a decision to take a job or turn it down, it does not have to be a lifelong career choice.

Many people, myself included, get decision paralysis when considering a job opportunity. Sometimes it is a simpler decision than you are making it out to be. If it is solely an opportunity to explore a new industry, or even a new city, that's okay. Each job is meant to be an experience. You can build skills within a role while providing value to your employer. For both parties it doesn't have to be a long term relationship. It may be an internship for a summer, a job for a few years and maybe down the road, it could be a decade long career relationship. The great news is that you don't need to define the relationship with an employer right away. It will continue to evolve and I promise that there is a purpose for it all, even if that purpose if not visible to you at that time.

CAREER COUNSELING: When you fall in love...

"The person you fall in love with is usually not the same person you divorce"

My friend Megan mentioned this statement during lunch the other day and I thought was a very insightful statement. Now I have never been married and would not presume to give marriage advice (leave that to the professionals). BUT...The idea forced me to reflect on other commitment decisions, for example, when you make a decision to leave or "divorce" your job.

Think about that initial meeting or interview you had. Like a first date, you may be excited about it, really enjoyed the conversation, big smile on your face as you are leaving. Where does this excitement come from? There may have been a few key people on your interview panel that with whom you really connected.  Or they may have shared some exciting project that stuck with you when you made the decision to commit to this job. Whatever it was that you feel in love with sometimes isn't enough to keep the relationship together down the road.

If you have had this experience, you may be thinking to yourself..."How in the world did I think accepting this job was a good idea???"  Don't beat yourself up too much. Just like a relationship with a person, job environments change. The project that you loved may have been short lived, or the person on the interview panel that you connected with may have moved onto a different role. Whatever the circumstances, it's okay to decide to move onto something else if the environment is no longer a fit for you. The best thing you can do is learn from this experience and move forward. The next time you make this decision, make sure you understand what the potential might be for different roles, projects and managers. Get a good look at the whole picture and what the future might look like. Hindsight is 20/20, so you cannot expect to predict everything, just make the best decision you can with the information you have at that time and if doesn't work out, then change it.

Bottom Line:  Don't be afraid to fall in love again, there is another great job out there for you and you deserve to be happy.

Free Samples

Keeping along the lines of my retail experiences lately, I wanted to share another thought with you. I just got a shipment in the mail from one of my favorite product lines (supersalve.com - seriously amazing stuff). I am usually pretty consistent with what I order from them, but the part I really enjoy is the free sample they include with every shipment. Just a little taste of something new they thought I would enjoy. Great marketing, simple approach, and of course, keeps me coming back for more.

The same idea of sampling can be used for marketing yourself. I certainly cannot take credit for this idea, but hopefully you can benefit from my sharing. Your resume is never going to be the perfect demonstration of everything you have to give to a career/position.  Sometimes, to get your foot in the door, you need a little bit more than a resume.

Consider sharing a sample of your work product or a "White Paper." Remembering a few keys things along the way....

• Make sure it is relevant to the career/job your are seeking and think about the audience - supersalve doesn't ever send me men's shave cream, because I have never ordered men's products from them before. Likely not something I would be interested in. 
• Make it interesting and innovative - Don't repeat information that is readily available. Offer insights that might be a bit outside of the box and explain how you came up with these ideas. 
• Make is short and sweet - similar to your resume, the reader needs to be able to get to the point quickly. A strong intro page will get their attention and perhaps they will make time to read more. 
• Make sure the information is available to share - you may have some great work that you are proud of from a previous job. Before you go sharing it with a potential competitor, make sure you are not breaking any rules, you can get yourself in trouble.  

Beyond that, have fun with it! If you are truly passionate about an industry, doing the research should be a fun activity for you.....let that excitement shine through in your product. 

Advertising yourself....honestly

As usual, there is a bit of inspiration from my daily activities that I draw upon for my thoughts here.

The other day I was out with my friend Megan and we stopped into a store because I read about this product in my latest girly magazine and wanted to try it out. When we got in there, we learned that not only did they not have any in stock, but also, they weren't going to have any available for about 10 days....the salesperson tried to find a sample, but they were out of those as well.  Bummer right? Megan, in her wisdom and previous experience in PR, whispered to me on the way out the door...."from a PR standpoint, they really shouldn't be advertising something they are not prepared to sell." Really good point.

The same rule applies when advertising yourself as a job seeker. With the common knowledge that a recruiter only spends 30-45 seconds reviewing your resume, some folks can be tempted to including some impressive activities to garner attention. The important thing to remember is that you have to be able to back up those claims.

That same resume that the recruiter spent 30 seconds on is also the same one a potential hiring manager could spend 30 minutes on in preparation for an interview with you. Remember that they have a job to fill and specific skills needed for that position. If you come in with an exaggerated description of your skills and you cannot back those up, you could jeopardize your chances at a dream job. All the passion in the world and ability to learn every aspect of the job won't get you beyond the bad impression you left for the hiring manager when they learned that you lied on your resume.

Remember that the right job is out there for you. Be yourself and be proud of your accomplishments... that passion will go farther than you think.

A new direction....where you are going and what you are leaving behind

I just got back from 2 weeks of travel. Part of my travels included visiting a masters program that would entail a 2 year full time commitment and a move cross country, ending most likely, with another move upon graduation. Without a doubt a big step...and my biggest question thus far has been: is this step in the right direction?

I have spent so much time researching this option and with more dedication than any other decision I can recall. When I went to visit this program, I expected to have what my career coach calls an "ah-ha moment." It didn't happen. So now what?

My research on the program tells me that there is nothing wrong with this step in my career. It is an area of study I am interested in. The program is custom and small and allows me to adapt my studies based on my own experiences and interests. The college town is quaint and friendly and I have good, long time friends nearby. Where is the hesitation coming from?

Upon my return home, I was catching up on correspondence and read an article posted by a friend on FB. The post, entitled "What happens with you live abroad" offered a perspective I had not considered about decisions moving forward. The post explained (among other insights) that sometimes when people make a move, its not always a concern about where they are going, but rather what they could potentially be leaving behind.

I was so focused on where this program would take me that when I had that vision sorted it, I couldn't understand why the decision was still difficult. I finally recognized that my struggles were around leaving behind the comforts and familiar environment that I have now.

If you are struggling with a decision to move in a new direction, I encourage you to evaluate where your fears are coming from. It takes time and lots of Q&A within yourself. Remember that there will always be something that you give up when committing to something else. Whatever decision you make...if you embrace it, enjoy it and make it a part of your story, then it will never be a mistake.

A 15-20pt lead - The Sweet Spot

If you are like much of the US sports fan population, you have likely been following March Madness over the past week or so. As a loyal fan of my Arizona Wildcats (Bear Down!), I have been watching the games leading up to the Sweet Sixteen. Many sports fans, myself included, have superstitions, theories and traditions that they follow in support of their teams. I was sharing my theory about team moral with some fellow fans on Saturday and realized that the idea worked not just for the basketball teams, but for individuals as well. Let me explain....

At the start of the game, all the players are full of energy and in general the points go back and forth with regularity and the score is usually even for the first few minutes of the game. From there, a team (hopefully AZ) will begin to take the lead. As that team scores points, a certain momentum is established and shared between the players. This excitement is a great part of the game and is contagious to the fans in the arena (and the bar as well). As the spread grows between the teams' scores, attitude and this 'energy' changes as well. At 10 points ahead, there is still room for a quick change with just a few small mistakes, at 15 points ahead, it is a lot harder to turn the game around, but still possible and at a 20 point lead, players may start feeling really comfortable with the lead.

My theory is that when the winning team is within a lead of 15-20 points, this is their "sweet spot." A level of confidence where they play their best. As a game continues and the winning team works within this 15-20 point lead, they play like a team with stamina working for a win AND with the confidence on a strong foundation behind them. When they drop below 15 points, they may struggle because they feel like they are losing their lead and they make more hasty decisions. Above 20 points, they become a bit less focused as they believe the game is in the bag. I am not claiming that players do not play with heart all the way through, they simply have a different level of confidence based on the point spread.

If you take this lesson of the sweet spot into your own goals and games, it works the same way.  Going into an interview, image that you are already in the lead and you just need to keep working hard and show your passion to make the win. If you come in believing you are not qualified, your insecurity will show and a hiring manager may question their decision. Worse yet, in my opinion, if you come in thinking you are overqualified and the postion is already yours, that arrogance will show and might cost you the job.

Play your job search game in the sweet spot; with the confidence of a strong team and the passion to work for the win. There will always be a group of fans supporting you along the way!

Is this the right role? Considerations....

I had an interesting conversation this morning. I was asked to provide some insights on product enhancements for a service I utilized in my former role as a recruiter.  Just as we were finishing up the conversation, the person I was speaking with made a comment about my previous role; asking if I was sure I wanted to leave that career path. It forced me to think a bit more about this idea...

One of the hard truths of the corporate world is that jobs and the duties and responsibilities associated with these positions are set up to benefit the company. Seems simple enough, but yet we overlook this idea so often when we become frustrated in our roles. Incentives and rewards at a company are set up to motivate the behavior they want from their employees.

Say you own a bakery and you are hiring a baker. Your business goal is to be a quick service bakery marketing to commuters coming through your location. Thinking along these lines, you want your staff to work towards speed and volume, so you would reward behavior such as the number of bagels the baker could produce for the morning rush rather than how pretty they looked on display. It's not to say that presentation quality is not important, but think about your customers. Your target consumers are likely not going to spend a lot of time admiring the presentation of the bagel, so you shouldn't be asking your staff to spend much time on that aspect either.

The reason I provide this example is to help you understand or recognize that just because a specific role at a specific company wasn't the right fit for you, doesn't mean that you were ill fit for the role itself. It could be that the aspects of the role that were most important for the company were not in line with the ones you perform best. Coming back to the bakery example, if you are a baker that is a visual perfectionist and you like to ensure that every bagel has the proper proportion of sesame seeds, perhaps a bakery that is most concerned with display and presentation would be a better fit for your skills than a bakery that is focused on volume and speed.

It took me some time to work this idea out. There are certainly aspects of recruiting that I really enjoyed, but the aspects that were more important to my employer were not the ones I was most passionate about. This ill fit was profound enough for me that I thought my only choice was to leave recruiting altogether. I have finally begun to recognize that I just need to find a company/position whose goals and priorities are in line with mine. I encourage you to do the same.

Job descriptions and titles can differ vastly across companies and industries. Take the time to understand the goals of the organizations and ask the tough questions. Remember a good fit benefits both sides of the employment decision. If you are already motivated and excited about a job and its the behavior that benefits the company, its a win for both sides.

Decisions without regrets...

You likely have had an experience similar to mine today. I was driving to an appointment and searching for blocks for a parking spot that wouldn't result in a parking ticket (tough to find in many cities). After driving around in circles and broadening my search, I finally squeezed into a spot a few blocks from my desired location. On my walk (up the hill, of course) to my appointment I passed by at least 3 parking spots that were not only closer to where I wanted to be, but also easier to get into and out of later. 

The thought briefly crossed my mind that I could go back and move my car to a closer spot...as did a few other questions:  What if that spot wasn't there by the time I got back? How much time would it take me to move the car and still walk to the appointment? Would I then be late?

It started me thinking about other decisions in life. Sometimes you have to make a decision based on the information you have at that time. Just as I could not predict that someone was going move out of a more ideal spot, you cannot always predict the future when it comes to career decisions. You have to make the best decision you can given the information you have at the time (yes, saying it again, because I say it to myself all the time). Hindsight is 20/20 and you can learn from your previous decisions, but it doesn't mean you should regret them. 

Continuing on with my analogie, if I kept circling around looking for that perfect spot right out front of where I needed to be, I could have missed my appointment altogether and all that effort would have been for nothing. On a more positive note, sometimes the experience can be part of the learning process. Today I had the opportunity to walk through an area that I had not been in before and see some beautiful homes that I likely would not have passed had I not parked where I did. 

Lesson (one more time for good measure): Make the best decision you can with the information you have at that time, no regrets!

Standing out in a crowd

Earlier I was sharing insight on how to develop a connection and put yourself higher up on the priority scale for a potential connection.

Now you are in the door and you have a great job description that excites you and gives you chills up your spine. How will you present yourself better than everyone else?

My friend Shelley was about to go into her 3rd round of interviews and didn't really seem to be super excited about it. When we talked it through, she confessed that she wasn't sure she would get the job, so she didn't want to set her expectations too high, only to be disappointed if she didn't get the position. 

Many job seekers, like my friend Megan, also get discouraged when they read through a job description and they don't have the experience to hit every single bullet point in the listed responsibilities or qualifications. As I told her, don't let that stop you from pursing the job that you want. I'll explain why.

Both of these woman had the same underlying issue. They were already convinced that they weren't qualified for the job.  In an effort to protect themselves from disappointment, they essentially disqualified themselves from a position before the employer even has a chance to make a decision. 

Lesson here: 

Don't discount your passion and enthusiasm for a job, this can go a LONG WAY to getting the job that you want

In my chat with Shelley, we talked about other people that were likely still in consideration for this job. Assuming they have all been through the same stages of the process, they likely have similar qualifications and a similar background and resume. So at this stage of the process, what would the interviewer be looking for? The answer: passion, enthusiasm and commitment 

Remember that when a company makes a hiring decision, they are investing their time and money in you. There is always the expectation that you will learn and develop in a role, just as a role develops with the changing needs of an organization. Think about the type of person you would want to hire....be that person who shows a willingness to learn and develop with a company and demonstrates the passion necessary to help the company be successful. 

Dare to be different! (thanks Megan)

Networking...

Its been a busy few weeks and I am not keen on posting something if I don't feel passionate about it. Something I am passionate about and have been spending a lot of my time on over the past few months, is networking. A relatively vague term I understand, but the underlying goal is what defines it. LinkedIn has done a great job of making virtual networking easy, but it also bombards those who have a lot to offer.

As a former employee of a desirable employer, I received a lot of messages from those looking to connect with me in an effort to get inside the organization. I understand this effort and expect to hear from these individuals and am generally willing to assist where I can. The issue I faced in this position and what I have learned from it is key. Volume.

When you receive numerous requests for the same thing, eventually you are going to have to say no. So how does one prioritize, and what does this mean for you as the network seeker?

-Alumni connection: this is generally a pretty solid strategy when doing a cold call introduction, if possible, get some face time at an alumni event

-Former colleague or similar employer: this is also a fairly safe bet as there is some level of understanding for your background/general skills when the person has experience with the same employer

-Friend of a friend: I know you have heard this phrase before, but it is probably one of the best ways to get a desired connection. Beware however, that the person you have reached to for an introduction may have similar goals. Do not be discouraged if they turn down your request. When you are put in a similar situation, this will make more sense

So, now you are asking: What if I don't have any of those top 3 options?
Sell yourself as you would for a job interview. A poorly written email to a potential connection is as detrimental as a format cover letter listing the wrong company. It shows a lack of commitment. If you are asking for time and assistance from an individual (connected or not), you need to commit as much as you are asking from them, if not more. Coping and pasting a standard email will give you the same standard response back.

Lesson: Take the time to find a connection.

• Research the school they attending and ask about the program in regards to the work they do now.
• Research the company and ask about pending news or current events in that industry or within their area of expertise.
• Research the organizations or foundations they belong to and work to make an inroads on that level.

The bottom line is if you want to be successful at networking, you need to make it worthwhile for the other person. Give them a reason to want to talk to you and help you. It will make all the difference. 

Confidence within yourself

As a follow up to the last post about finding your strengths, I think its important to remember the inspiring Eleanor Roosevelt who said:

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent

Sometimes the biggest hurdle to overcome when starting a job search is within yourself. You must have the confidence to believe in your abilities. When you start receiving the positive feedback requested from those you trust, take the time to digest and more importantly, believe it.

Just as a surgeon wouldn't expect an interior designer to repair an organ, a surgeon is not expected to know how to develop architectural renderings of a home remodel. Again, understand and believe in your strengths. Know that just because you may not have been the best employee at your last position, does not make you a failure.

When you find a job that excites you and it is in line with your strengths, you will think to yourself...Can I do this job? Know that you can. The more confidence you have in your abilities, the easier it will be to convince a hiring manager of the same. Keep your head up and believe in yourself!

A fulfilling job AND a fulfilling life

It always seems easier to give advice to someone who knows what they want. You can be specific about your search and how you sell yourself to potential employers. What if you still haven't figured out what you want to do with your life?

I have been taking some time to really dig down on this issue. There seems to be a constant battle between finding fulfillment in a job and then just having a job to provide the lifestyle that you want. I still want both and I don't think that is too much to ask for.

Next steps....after talking to some good friends about this, I am working to better understand my strengths. No matter how much you tell yourself that you can do anything, it doesn't seem to change the fact that doing something you are good at is a much more rewarding experience. So I have been reaching out to former colleague, clients, and friends to ask for their honest opinion on this area. The results have been fantastic. Remember that your view of yourself is only one side of the story and the effect you have on other people could be eye opening for you.

If you are debating with similar issues regarding the next steps in your career or your life, don't be afraid to reach out for help. People, in general, like to help others and if you can make them part of your exciting journey of self discovery, they may provide more help than you ever imaged.

Recommendations:
Try the Myers-Briggs test. You should be able to find this online for free if you have not taken it before. It's a great first step to understanding yourself and your strengths and weaknesses.

Email former colleagues whom you trust. Ask for honesty when they provide feedback, if they are not comfortable with it, don't push. It is more important to get the truth. If they tell you what they think you want to hear, its may be a nice ego boost, but not going to help you get where you need to do.

Let me know if you have other ideas you want to share from your journey!

The Elevator Pitch

As a follow up to the story telling post last week, I thought it might be helpful to remind job seekers and those interviewing of the important of your quick pitch....commonly known as the elevator pitch. Aptly named in my opinion because you should be able to get through it in a quick elevator ride, I would say between 90 seconds and 2 minutes.

Having your pitch perfected is important for the job seeker as it helps summarize what you are looking for before your audience looses interest. The goal is to help them understand your background, your career goals and how they can help. Seems like a lot in under 2 minutes, but I assure you it can be done.

Step 1:  Know your audience!
The most common audience is someone who can connect you within an organization or career area. Make sure your pitch is something they can digest quickly and start developing ideas as you are going through your story. People are more likely to offer help if you can make easy for them. Doing research on their background to understand their connections or level of experience.

• For example: "Given your decade plus years of experience in advertising, I was hoping to set up some time to understand the most important milestones to achieving this type of role." You will be surprised how often people are willing to help out. 

Step 2: Summarize
Keep it short and sweet. You are not providing your lifetime biography here. Keep it to what they need to know. Once you have them engaged you will have the opportunity to share more as needed, but this is the quick catch. Think of it as the billboard you are passing by during your commute....does it engage you enough to remember it, would you visit the website. Think of yourself as that billboard, you want your audience to be enticed to visit the website for more details.

Step 3: Have a point
Make sure you communicate next steps. What are you asking of your audience? Are you asking for an introduction? An information interview? A resume submission? It doesn't need to be forceful, but remember to make it easy for them, tell them for what you want.

Practice with a friend. Pitch your story and see how it goes. If you are like me, sometimes you get going too fast, or head off in a different direction away from the point of the discussion.

Finally, remember that this is a work in progress, you are going to be editing your story as your life develops and you learn more about what you want. Just remember you are not adding to the story, but rather refocusing on the current important pieces that are relevant to where you want to go.

Telling your story

If you are on a similar path as mine, you know that it can be hard to make the transition from what you have been doing to what you want to do.  Employers ideally want a person who has experience doing the job they are hiring for.  While some level of ramp up time is expected (finding the printer, coffee and tech help) a hiring manager needs you up and running ASAP.  My "funemployed" friends and I were talking about this today amongst the coffeeshop/laptop crowd, chatting about how detailed job descriptions were and the option of using a headhunter and how much a company has to invest when hiring a new employee.

Given the actual cost of hiring a person (which can range depending on the experience level), it is important to think about what the hiring manager needs from their personnel. If your resume does not directly read into your desired role, it is your responsibility as the job seeker to help the hiring manager understand your transferable skills. Don't expect a recruiter or resume screener to read between the lines of your resume and understand your underlying desires. I speak from experience, a recruiter will generally spend no more than 30-45 seconds reviewing a resume. The lesson here....give them a reason to read through it more carefully. This is why I always recommend a cover letter.

You will find a number of websites with examples of cover letters to assist you with whatever role you are applying for. What I recommend is keeping it specific to the position you are applying for and specific to your skills. Take the time to read through all those bullet points in the job description and take the same approach in your cover letter. If they are looking for a strategic thinker, bullet that in your cover letter and give a short sentence where you have demonstrated those skills. Remember, it is your job to sell yourself for this position, the easier you make it for those reviewing your application, the more likely they are to want to learn more.

When its not the right fit

Much of the search process for finding the right career seems to be focused on getting the job offer first. What happens when you find out it may not be the right place for you during the interview process?

My friend Megan recently has this experience. She had worked hard to get an interview at a place she thought she could really develop into the career she had envisioned for herself.  One of the things that was important to Megan was balance. A balance between creating and maintaining, a balance between learning and providing value, and most of all, a balance between work and life.

I am the first to admit that I can get caught up in the excitement of a potential career opportunity, thinking that if I really loved it, I would want to dedicate as much time as it takes, and look past the red flags. Megan kept her priorities in order though, and while it was a good option, she realized quickly and clearly during the interview process that the lifestyle led by her interviewers was not the one that she wanted for herself. Instead of continuing through the process, she sent a polite email, thanking them for their time, expressing her continued high impression of their work, but explaining that she was looking for something different.

Many folks may recommend sticking it out through the interview process for the experience, or just to see if you can get the job. If you are uncertain about things, for example, the lifestyle of your potential new team, or how much mentoring you would get for a role, don't be afraid to ask questions. However, if you are sure that there are some serious red flags and it doesn't at least move you in the direction you want to go in, don't be afraid to walk away.

In the end the company has dedicated time and money to consider you for this position. If you are certain that this is not the opportunity for you, save time and energy for both sides. Its the right thing to do and could lead to other options down the road especially if you leave a favorable impression with the company.

Finding passion...

Newton:

A body at rest tends to stay at rest, and a body in motion tends to stay in motion. 

Just a good gentle reminder to get myself moving each day.


How this all got started...
I recently became unemployed. My friends and family have been supportive of my decisions thus far and encouraging me with things like "this is the best thing you could be doing" and "now is your chance to do it right." Don't get me wrong, I love the boost of confidence I get whenever I talk to folks about it, but it doesn't change that fact that it still feels a bit weird every morning, getting out of bed and having no job to go to.

So part of my plan was and still is to enjoy this time...and spend it wisely. I quickly recognized that I was defining myself based on my employment status....and this is the first thing I need to fix. What I have also recognized is that I am not the only one going through this type of situation. Many people in various stages of their lives are looking for their passion. I thought it might be helpful to share my experience and let people know they are not alone in seeking a better way to spend their precious day.

What I have found thus far is that I enjoy helping others. I thought it would also be helpful to incorporate some helpful hints I have learned in my career regarding the job search process, once you've found your passion.


Interview Tip:
In finding your passion, it also helps to share moments of passion during your interview. Outside of case interviews (generally used for consulting positions), most interviews are focused on the same goals. Based on your skills, experience and the needs of the position, are you going to be a good fit.

Questions that start with "tell me about a time when..." are generally trying to dig into your background and determine if you think strategically, handle conflict well, understand budgetary contraints and similar such skills. As a candidate with some level of experience, you should have at least 2-3 different accomplishments in your background (school or work experience) that you can draw upon to answer any one of these questions.

The structure can differ based on what the interviewer is asking, but generally, you should be able to summarize the situation, articulate the conflict (without placing blame - I generally try to describe the situation from an outside view perspective to minimize this issue) discuss your role and course of action and the resolution. The key here is let your passion come through when discussing the outcome, its okay to be proud of your accomplishment or even a lesson learned. Displaying this passion and enthusiasm shows a potential employer that you are proud of your work. That is something they cannot train you for, but is a key element to a successful employee.

This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind...let it be something good. - Author Unknown